Self care is a word that is thrown around a lot, especially during this time of pandemic madness.
Self care has come to mean so many different things to different people, it can refer to hanging out at home, spa days, and working out.
But the main point of self care is to do something for you, anything that makes you feel better and refreshed.
With the constant state of stress and anxiety from our PMS stressing to just the anxiety in the air with the Delta Variant, this is the time to dive headfirst into Self Care.
A Kaiser Family Foundation poll recently found that over 50% of US Adults said that the stress from COVID has had a negative impact on their well-being and their mental health. Living in a state of pressure for a year and a half, the pandemic has threatened our old ways of life in a variety of ways from how we work, our finances, our relationships, and of course the health of our families and friends. With all of this constantly on our mind, it is time to take the leap into a Self-Care routine and lifestyle.
So What is Self Care?
Self care is anytime we make small and purposeful efforts to do something for ourselves that will make us feel more relaxed and happier after the event. Self care can be done as a group and doesn’t have to be done alone.
Why is Self Care Crucial?
Our bodies need to have the time to relax and reset, in order to get the most out of life. By taking the time to shut down for a moment and just be with yourself, you can give more energy to your loved ones and yourself.
It’s like when you’re on an airplane and the flight attendants tell you to put on your mask before you help others. You have to put on the mask of self care, so you can help the others in your life.
These small gestures of self care can help you feel more present in a stressful situation and help you reduce your overall anxiety.
Self care isn’t a thing you need to spend money on, in fact, it’s a lot about how you set boundaries with your friend and family, taking that time for yourself at home, but also making sure to carve out the time for those friends you really care about.
You deserve to take that time for yourself, and you have to create a sustainable self-care routine that you can do over and over again. It can’t feel like a chore, you want self-care items that you want to do!
What Self Care Isn’t:
- Self care is not ghosting your friends to stay in and watch a streaming service.
- Self care isn’t buying those shoes you see window shopping.
- Self care is not telling yourself you’re going to exercise every day of the month and then feeling guilty because you’ve set an unreasonable goal.
- Self care isn’t buying that random $200 serum.
- Self care isn’t telling yourself you can’t have dessert, only to eat a tub of ice cream and berate yourself about your choices.
What Self Care Is:
- Self care is watching that episode of TV after a long day of work to unwind before bed.
- Self care is looking through your closet and then making an informed decision on the shoes you need.
- Self care is setting realistic expectations for yourself, maybe to exercise once or twice a week at the beginning and going from there.
- Self care is being conscious about your skin care routine and making sure you’re washing your face every morning and evening.
- Self care is eating things in moderation.
So are you ready to try Self Care?
What makes you feel good? What makes you feel more relaxed after you do it?
Start by making a list of things that make you feel good, so when you have a moment of free time, you can try something on the list!
Self care is taking the time so that you are rested and at peace so you can be present in the other parts of your life. It’s a necessary step for feeling good and relaxed in your day to day. It’s time to try your self care routine now!
We also have a great meditation series that can get you in the mood to connect with your self-care! Check out the meditations here:
